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President-elect Donald Trump will be joined by Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis at this year’s annual Army-Navy college football game in Andover, Md., next week amid speculation that the latter is being considered for a Cabinet post.
“NEW: Florida Governor @RonDeSantis will attend the Army-Navy football game with President Elect @realDonaldTrump next Saturday, per source familiar with DeSantis’ schedule,” Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin posted on the X platform.
NEW: Florida Governor @RonDeSantis will attend the Army-Navy football game with President Elect @realDonaldTrump next Saturday, per source familiar with DeSantis’ schedule.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) December 6, 2024
The report comes as, according to The New York Times, Trump has been discussing the possibility of replacing SECDEF nominee Pete Hegseth with DeSantis. The Times report dropped as Hegseth continues to face intense scrutiny over allegations of sexual misconduct and other controversies, all of which he denies.
“Mr. Trump has told people close to him that he likes the idea of giving Mr. DeSantis the job, saying it would be a “big story” if he resurrected Mr. DeSantis after defeating him,” The Times report said. “The president-elect has also praised Mr. DeSantis’s ability to run the state of Florida, where Mr. Trump lives, and has mentioned that he is ‘a Navy guy.’”
The Times added: “Mr. Trump has privately mentioned Michael Waltz, the Florida congressman he picked as his national security adviser, as another option, pointing out that he would be easily confirmed by the Senate. But people close to Mr. Trump believe that Mr. DeSantis is his favored alternative at this moment if he decides to abandon Mr. Hegseth.”
That said, the president-elect has maintained that he is committed to Hegseth.
On Friday he posted a message of support for Hegseth on Truth Social, writing: “Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe. He was a great student – Princeton/Harvard educated – with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense, one who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!”
Meanwhile, in an X statement, Vice President-elect JD Vance posted a screenshot of Trump’s statement, adding: “Led by President Trump, we’re fighting for Pete Hegseth. And we’re doing so because Pete Hegseth wil fight for our troops. For too long, the Pentagon has been led by people who lose wars. Pete Hegseth is a man who fought in those wars. We’ve got his back.”
Led by President Trump, we’re fighting for Pete Hegseth. And we’re doing so because Pete Hegseth wil fight for our troops.
For too long, the Pentagon has been led by people who lose wars. Pete Hegseth is a man who fought in those wars.
We’ve got his back. pic.twitter.com/6n57SSQQ5X
— JD Vance (@JDVance) December 6, 2024
During an interview with top-rated SiriusXM podcaster Megyn Kelly, Hegseth heartily dismissed the allegations against him, ranging from rape to sexual assault, drunken behavior and financial mismanagement, calling them classic smears against a Trump ally akin to those against now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
“It is the classic art of the smear,” Hegseth said. “Take whatever tiny kernels of truth — and there are tiny, tiny ones in there — and blow them up into a masquerade of a narrative about somebody that I am definitely not.” He also told Kelly that if he was confirmed, he would not have “a drop of alcohol” during the time he serves as the Pentagon chief.
In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Hegseth made similar arguments, writing, “I look forward to an honest confirmation hearing with our distinguished senators — not a show trial in the press.”
During a brief interview in the hallways of Congress earlier in the week, Hegseth brushed off suggestions that he may withdraw his name. “Why would I back down? I’ve always been a fighter,” he said.
